Means for raising and lowering a center leaf in extension tables



Och 1953 CECILE LALLIER NEE LEBLANC 7,

MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING A CENTER LEAF IN EXTENSION TABLES Filed D80. 14 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l /l\l VEN TOR ATTORNEY 27, 1953 CECILE LALLIER NEE LEBLANC 2, 7, 08

MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERI A CENTER LEAF IN EXTENSION TA 5 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Dec. 14 1951 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 OFFICE MEANS. on RAISING AND. LOWERING A ENT R E F IN EXTEN ION" ABLE Ocile Lallier nee Leblanc, Granby, Quebec, Canada.

Applicationpecember 14, 1951, Serial No. 261,720

4 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in means for raising and lowering a centre leaf in extension tables, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanye ing drawings that form a part of same.

The invention consists essentially of; the novel features cf; construction as pointed out broadly andspecifically in the claims for-novelty following adescription containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form ofthe invention.

The objects of the invention are todevise a means for extension tables which will automatically position the additional leaf in the table top when the outer leaves of same are drawn apart; to contrive a device for extension tables in which an additional leafmay be concealed beneath the regular table top sections when the table is in its most compact position; to furnish an extension table device which will assure equal movement of each section of the table top when the same are being drawn outward or moved inward with respect to one another; to make a device for extension tables which will have few and simple parts, and generally to provide an extension table device which will be easily ill-t stalled, simple to use and. enicient for its pur: pose.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview showing thetable in a closed position with the centre leaf concealed below the end sections of the tabletop.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showingthe table in an extended position with the centre leaf flush with the end sections of the table top.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspece tive viewshowing a portion of the end' sections of the table top in a closed position and. having the centre leaf concealed; therebelowwith the ex tension table device secured below the end sec: tions of the table top and supporting this centre le -ii Fi ure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the end sections of the table top and the centre leaf heldv up; position by means. of the extension table device located there: below.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view sh0 w-. ing; the. centre leaf support removed from one of the locking bars shown at its right and also removed from one of the main channel supports showing to the left of the centre leaf sup- Bert.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional do: tail showing one of the locking bars slidably ac: commodated within one of themain channel supportsand having one of the end section supports for the table top connected therewith.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing the equalizing arrangement which assures equal movement of each of the and sections of the table top outward or inward with the equali zing device as secured thereto.

Figure 8; is a bottom view of the extension table device Figure 9' is an enlarged detail through a portion 'of the device showing one of the suppbrts for the centre leafof the table top in a depressed position in full lines and in a raised position in dotted lines.

Like numerals. of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings the extension table device as indicated by the numeral i5 consists of a pair of stationary guides Hi, and pairs or moveable guides I! and I8 which are slidably fitted into each end of the stationary guides l6 and provide supporting means for the end leaves I Qand 2-fl of the table top. Each of the moveable guides I1 and I8 are secured to the underside ofthe end leaves i9 and 20 by screws. or other suitable means. In this respect the moveable guides H and I8 are spaced outward. from the underside of the end leaves l9 and 20 by means of spacer-strips 2! and the thickness of the latter is slightly greater than the thickness of thecentre leaf 22 which is positioned below the end leaves I9 and 26 when the table top is in a closed posi: tion.

The stationary guides 16 are positioned beneath the table top, suitably. spaced apart, and extend longitudinally with respect to the table.

The moveable guides I1 and: iii are positioned adjacent the outer sides of the stationary guides I 6 and are slidably connected to one another by means of slots and pins in each of the guides being in engagement with one another. In this respect longitudinal slots 23, which are located in the outer face of each of the. stationary guides I 6 toward each end thereof and fixed pins 24., ex: tend through the. inner ends of each of the move:

I able guides l1 and i8 and slidably engage. with these slots 23- in the stationary guide it. Each of the fixed pins 24 have a head formed on the one end thereofto maintain the pinsin position in the moveable guides H and It. A longitudinal slot 25 is also provided in each of the moveable guides IT and I8 and retaining pins 26 are fixed in the stationary guides I5 and engage in the longitudinal slot in each of these moveable guides. The retaining pins 26 have heads formed thereon larger than each of the longitudinal slots 25 thereby maintaining each slidably in engagement therewith. The fixed pins 2 in engagement with the longitudinal slots 23 and the retaining pins 25 in engagement with the longitudinal slots 25 provide a two point slidable suspension means for each of the moveable guides l! and is with respect to the stationary guides It. In moving the moveable guides i? and i3 inward with re-- spect to the stationary guides to the pins in each come in contact with the ends of the longitudinal slots in which they are in engagement with, providing a means of stopping each of the moveable guides when they have reached their outermost positions. Upon movement of the moveable guides ii and i8 outward with respect to the stationary guides iii the pins in each of these guides which extend through longitudinal slots in the stationary guides come in contact with a flange or lip on the outer ends of locking strips which are slidably fitted within each of the stationary guides.

Pairs of locking strips 2i and 28 which are slidably mounted within each of the stationary guides is provide a means of retaining centre support members as and 38 in position when the table is closed. The locking strips each have a lip or flange 3! formed on the outer ends thereof and turned inward toward the vertical wall of each of the stationary guides it which, in this instance, are of a channel formation. The fixed pins 2 5 in the moveable guides Hi and is come in contact with each of these flanges and as the moveable guides are extended almost to their extreme outward position they exert an outward pull on each of the locking strips. Upon the moveable guides being manually released, after the extension of the table top, tension springs 32 which are connected to the inner ends of each pair of locking strips tend to return the latter inwardly to their original positions. In this respect the inner ends of the locking strips 2% and 28 each have a lug 36 which bears against the vertical edges of the centre support members 23 and 3t and when the latter are in a lowered position these lugs engage in open slots 33 and 34 extending inward on each side of the centre support members, thus maintaining the same in a depressed position.

The centre support members 29 and 30 are each of a channel formation having the open slots 33 and St in the vertical back wall thereof while the horizontal flanges forming the channel extend inward. The stationary guides IE, which are also of a channel formation, have a vertical back wall and horizontal flanges extending inward therefrom and longitudinal slots 35 extend through each of these horizontal flanges midway between the ends of the stationary guides. The vertical back wall of each of the centre support members 29 and 3! extends through the longitudinal slots 35 in the hori zontal flanges of the stationary guides it thus providing a means of mounting the same so as to permit vertical movement thereof.

Pairs of longitudinal spring members 311' and as are mounted on the stationary guides it which extend along both sides of the extension table device, and these spring members exert an upward pressure on the centre support members 25! and 39 at all times. The outer or fixed ends of the longitudinal spring members are anchored in holes extending through the horizontal flanges of the stationary guides It. The portion of the spring members 31 and 38 extending through the stationary guides also provides a, means of retaining the locking strips 21 and 23 in position adjacent the vertical walls of the stationary guides. A pair of vertical pins 39 and so also extend through the flanges of the stationary guides IE to further maintain these locking strips 27 and 28 in position and yet at the same time permit them to slide freely longitudinally in either direction. The free ends of the longitudinal spring members engage the underside of the upper horizontal flange of the centre support members 29 and 3E! and exert an upward pressure thereon. The centre support members 29 and 30 provide a means of mounting the centre leaf of the extension table while the moveable guides i7 and 18 provide a means of mounting the end leaves of the extension table.

Suitable connecting members extend between the two stationary guides it so as to hold the same a predetermined distance apart and parallel with one another.

An equalizer M is pivotly secured to a central portion of the connecting members and simultaneously the ends of the same are pivotly secured to the underside of each of the end leaves of the table top. The invention as described herein may or may not be used with this equalizer which, when connected to both the end leaves, assures an equal movement for either one during the lengthening or shortening of the extension table top, whereas without the use of this equalizer each of the end leaves would have to be drawn individually outward or inward during adjustment of the extension table.

In the use of the invention the centre leaf is concealed below the inner portions of the end leaves when the latter are in abutment with one another and upon drawing the end leaves apart the centre leaf is adapted to spring upward flush with the rest of the table top when a sufficient Space has been provided for the same to enter. Upon the end leaves being drawn out to their extended position the moveable guides ll and i8 supporting same in co-operation with pins secured thereto engage the ends of the locking strips 2? and 28 and draw each thereof outward thus disengaging the lugs 35 on the inner ends of these strips with respect to the open slots in the centre support members and accordingly permit the latter to be sprung upward by the longitudinal spring members 31 and 38 thus raising the centre leaf which is mounted on these centre support members. In closing the extension table the centre leaf is simply depressed, thus pushing downward the centre support members 29 and 3 3, which then look in position as the lugs on the inner ends of the locking strips 2"! and 28 engage the open slots in the centre support members and accordingly permit the centre leaf to be lowered sufficiently below the end leaves to permit the latter to come into abutment with one another.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extension table device has been provided that will facilitate the lengthening or shortening of an extension table top and, at the same time, provide a piece of furniture that will be attractive and useful.

What I claim is:

1. In an extension table, an extension device comprising stationary guides suitably supported by the legs of the table, moveable guides supported by said stationary guides, centre support members being supported by said stationary guides, said moveable guides being adjustable in a horizontal plane and said centre support members being adjustable in a vertical plane, end top sections mounted on said moveable guides, and a centre top section mounted on said centre support members, locking strips slidably mounted on said moveable guides, said locking strips each having a lip on the outer end thereof for engagement with a projection on each of said moveable guides as the latter are extended outward to their extreme position, means on the inner ends of said locking strips for engaging each of said centre support members, spring members mounted on said stationary guides and tending to raise said centre support members, said locking strips in co-operation with said moveable guides and said centre support members releasing the latter upon extension of said end top sections, thereby raising said centre top section in the space left between said end top sections for providing a lengthened table top, and upon said centre top section being depressed to permit the closing of said end top section said locking strips once again engaging said centre support members and accordingly retaining the latter in a lowered position resulting in a shortened table top.

2. In an extension table, an extension device comprising stationary guides suitably supported by the legs of the table, moveable guides supported by said stationary guides, centre support members being supported by said stationary guides, said moveable guides being adjustable in a horizontal plane and said centre support members being adjustable in a vertical plane, end top sections mounted on said moveable guides, and a centre top section mounted on said centre support members, locking strips slidably supported by said stationary guides and adapted to be engaged by said moveable guides upon extreme outward movement of the latter, thus Withdrawing said locking strips from engagement with said centre support members and accordingly allowing the latter free vertical movement, spring members mounted on said stationary guides and engaging said centre support members in such a manner as to raise the latter upon disengagement with said loclzing strips, thereby permitting said centre top section to be raised flush with said end top section upon extension of the table top, and tension spring means tending to draw said locking strips towards one another, thus en aging said centre support members upon said centre top section being depressed, thereby maintaining the latter in a lowered position and accordingly permitting said end top sections to be brought into abutment with one another over said centre top section.

3. In an extension table, an extension device comprising stationary guides suitably supported by the legs of the table, moveable guides suitably supported by said stationary guides, centre support members being supported by said stationary guides, said moveable guides being adjustable in a horizontal plane and said centre support members being adjustable in a vertical plane, end top sections mounted on said moveable guides, and a centre top section mounted on said centre support members, locking means slidably supported by said extension device and adapted to be engaged by said moveable guides upon the extreme outward movement of the latter, thus withdrawing said locking means from engagement with said centre support members, tension means tending to raise said centre support members upon their release with respect to said locking means, thus raising said centre top section and bringing same into alignment with said end top sections, thus forming an extended table top, and upon said centre top section being depressed and simultaneously lowering said centre support members, the latter being reengaged by said locking means and being retained in a lowered position thus permitting said end top sections to be drawn inward towards one another over said centre top section and accordingly concealing the latter when the table top is in a shortened position.

4. In an extension table, an extension device comprising stationary guides suitably supported by the legs of the table, moveable guides supported by said stationary guides, centre support members being supported by said stationary guides, said moveable guides being adjustable in a horizontal plane and said centre support members being adjustable in a vertical plane, end topsections mounted on said moveable guides, and a centre top section mounted on said centre support members, locking strips slidably mounted on said moveable guides, said locking strips each having a lip on the outer end thereof, pins fixedly mounted with respect to said moveable guides for engaging the lips on the ends of said looking strips as said moveable guides are drawn outward to their extended position, lugs formed on the inner ends of said locking strips, said centre support members having open slots in the vertical edges of same at each side thereof adapted for engagement with said lugs on the inner ends of said locking strips, spring members mounted on said stationary guides and tending to raise said centre support members, said locking strips, in co-operation with said moveable guides and said centre support members, releasing the latter upon disengagement of the lugs on said locking strips with the open slots in said centre support members, thereby permitting said spring members to raise said centre top section in to the lengthened table top, and upon said centre top section being depressed to permit the closing of said end top sections, the lugs on said locking strips: once again engaging the open slots in said centre support members and accordingly retaining the latter in a lowered position, resulting in a shortened table top.

citorLr: LALLIER, NE'E LEBLANC.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 451,597 Magnussan May 5, 1891 957,611 Kral May 10, 1910 1,143,853 Olson June 22, 1915 1,793,819 Muhlichen Feb. 24, 1931 1,805,213 Greenwood May 12,, 1931 1,861,565 Hall June 7,, 1932 1,877,314 Herbert Sept. 13, 1932 1,935,531 Walter Nov. 14, 1933 2,098,233 Giles Nov. 9, 1937 

